• March 28, 2024

Thoughts From Eagles-Falcons

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles catches a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) ORG XMIT: _R019087

Deja-Vu! Another 4th and Goal Stop Gives Eagles Opening Night Win

It’s scary just how much the season opener mirrored the NFC Divisional Playoff game last January. A low-scoring, defensive battle that came right down to the wire. Holding a six-point lead with just over two minutes to go, the defense had to overcome one last ferocious drive from the Atlanta Falcons.

Once again, a final throw in the corner of the endzone to Julio Jones fell incomplete, and while this wasn’t a playoff game, this was an enormous win to start the season that could have major playoff implications later in the season.

The defense was challenged early and often, and did a tremendous job keeping the team in the game while the offense struggled.

Jim Schwartz’s group held on a goalline stand to open the game, and held the Falcons to a pair of field goal opportunities on their other scoring chances.

The group gave up their only touchdown on the night after they were spotted a short field by a Nick Foles interception.

The Eagles really overcame a lot in this game.

They committed 11 penalties for over 100 yards. They overcame a flurry of bad mistakes, including a silly turnover on a punt (another mirror image from the playoff game). They overcame playing without key pieces like Carson Wentz, Alshon Jeffrey, and Nigel Bradham.

Quick Thoughts

Offense

  • I thought Doug Pederson leaned too heavily on Darren Sproles in the first half. Sproles took the majority of snaps, and lead the team with six touches in the first half alone, compared to Jay Ajayi’s three and Corey Clement’s 2.
  • I was also shocked at how little Pederson used two-tight end sets in the first half. Dallas Goedert only saw the field when the team was in the redzone in the first half, and with the team relying on Shelton Gibson or DeAndre Carter to pick up more snaps, it made it easier for the Falcons to key in on taking Zach Ertz away.
  • The scheme got much better in the second half. Ajayi and Clement were much more involved, with Sproles being preserved for some of the game’s biggest moments.
  • Pederson gave the team a big spark when he shocked the world (again) by bringing out the Philly Special for an encore, with Nick Foles catching a Nelson Agholor pass for 15 yards. I felt the same shock and joy watching that play unfold that I did during the Super Bowl.
  • Foles wasn’t great tonight, but managed the game effectively enough. His lone interception wasn’t his fault, as rookie tight end Dallas Goedert allowed the ball to pop out of his hands. Foles finished the night 19/34 for just 117 yards.
  • Foles’ best moment may have been when he changed a play in the fourth quarter, adjusting to a call that sprung Jay Ajayi for his second touchdown of the night.
  • Rough night for Zach Ertz, who dropped two catchable balls, one of which killed a drive on third down.
  • Nelson Agholor caught eight passes, but gained just 33 yards.
  • It’s amazing to watch Darren Sproles. That guy can still play at a high level. He picked up a huge third down late in the game on a short pass, with a defender in front of him, Sproles wouldn’t be denied.
  • How great is it to have Jason Peters back at left tackle?
  • DeAndre Carter got into the game for several snaps, and caught a pass for 10 yards.

Defense

  • Great play by Kamu Gruiger-Hill on the 4th and goal stop, fighting off two blockers to get to Devante Freeman to keep the Falcons off of the board.
  • Fletcher Cox made a great read recognizing a screen and stopping it for a loss in the first half.
  • Rodney McLeod dropped an easy interception late in the second quarter. With scoring opportunities so hard to come by in this one, it was a shame to see a short-field opportunity lost. McLeod did come back to break up a pass in the second half.
  • Ronald Darby had a strong game, breaking up two passes, and forcing Julio Jones out of bounds on the final play of the game.
  • Jalen Mills is still very prone to getting burned by the deep ball, nearly giving up a 52-yard bomb to Jones.
  • Big return for Jordan Hicks, who picked up 1.5 sacks.
  • Chris Long chipped in 1.5 sacks of his own, and also forced a fumble from Matt Ryan.
  • Rasul Douglas came up with the Eagles’ only turnover, picking off a pass in the second half intended for Jones.

Special Teams

  • Great night for Cameron Johnston, who pinned the Falcons down in the first half with a 58-yard punt.
  • Shelton Gibson made an unacceptable mistake taking the ball out of the endzone following the kickoff after the second Atlanta field goal. Gibson barely made it to the 10-yard line, and a holding penalty cost the Birds an additional five yards. Gibson’s mistake cost the Eagles 20 yards and made it more difficult for them to have success with that drive.
  • Rookie Avante Maddox was flagged twice for special teams penalties in the first half.
  • Even more inexcusable was Tre Sullivan, who for some reason refused to get out of the way of a live ball during a punt at the end of the third quarter. The Falcons pushed the young safety into the ball, resulting in a turnover. Expect Sullivan to have played his last game as an Eagle.

Final Thoughts

Super Bowl hangover? Nah.

The Eagles showed the same fight and character tonight that they had during their Super Bowl run. In spite of everything that went wrong, the team never let adversity get to them, and kept coming out and fighting every play.

Just look at the final sequence of the game. The Eagles had to stop the Falcons on fourth and goal twice because of a silly penalty, but we’re still able to find a way to get it done.

They now start the season with a solid victory against a key opponent in the NFC. They have the benefit of some extra rest before their road trip to Tampa Bay. They can continue to build and improve on what they’ve done so far, and clean up what they did poorly in this one.

Denny Basens

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CT
CT
September 7, 2018 1:00 am

I really miss the community on that site. It’s ashamed what happened to it.

Great win tonight boys! WE TRIED TO GIVE IT AWAY, but they just wouldn’t take it LOL!!

Nick Foles needs to start the whole season. Not only was the game very similar, along with how the ending went , but Nick Foles got hot, and found his confidence as the game went on, just like last years playoff game

… we also muffed a punt, just like last years game…

The interception, just like the one in the super bowl to AJ was not his fault.
Welcome to the nfl moment for Dalas Goedert

Oline found its groove as the game went on and we were able to get that running game going.

Start the man, and let Wentz chill the whole season. Zero reason to rush a 25 year old when you have a QB of Nick Foles caliber

The MVP IS A stone cold killer

Eaglehaslanded
Eaglehaslanded
September 7, 2018 8:11 am

Glad to get out of that game with a win. I expect Nick Foles to play better as he continues to get snaps/reps.

The defense balled out and repeatedly bailed out the offense. Our d line is nothing to play with. Once our offense gets it together the Eagles are going to be a force to reckon with. If the offense can match the intensity of the defense, and Carson gets back in time enough, I see no reason why the Eagles can’t get back to the super bowl.

deserteagle
deserteagle
September 7, 2018 11:08 am

One observation yesterday we can all relate, is Atlantas red zone Offense, reminded us of chips inept attack.

Eaglehaslanded
Eaglehaslanded
September 7, 2018 1:04 pm

Chip Kelly. I enjoyed watching him lose last week. I will also enjoy watching him lose this week to Oklahoma. I still can’t stand that fraud.

Xevious
Xevious
September 7, 2018 3:07 pm

Any win without your Franchise QB and #1 Wideout is a good win. Next up Tampa.

Eaglehaslanded
Eaglehaslanded
September 11, 2018 7:58 am

I miss the activity on this board too. Unfortunately I think a lot of the activity was fueled by the trolls bantering about the QB position. People like TS Johnson and koolbreeze were not Eagles fans..moreso trolls who were Mike Vick fans. After the QB issue was settled with the drafting of Carson Wentz, a lot of the discussion here went away. Then personal attacks drove others away. This site has to be built back up, the technology needs to be advanced too with real time up to date posts..you should not have to keep refreshing the board to get new posts and see updated responses. There are so many other sites that incorporates this technology which makes the discussions so much easier and fun. I’ve stated this directly to G.Cobb on this board but there’s never any response. I think it would help if G and Denny would be more available to interact with the users of this site during some of the chats.